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Full Circle

Resonant Drift return, bearing new worlds of sound that vary from wide, windswept desert-ambient vistas and hushed, cloud-shrouded meditation chambers to uncertain, grit-choked places better left unnamed. Tone and texture chart the course on Full Circle, a journey that goes as far inward as it does out, making it a trip worth taking over and over.

Genre: Electronic: Ambient

Release Date: 2012

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ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

"The rising moan of an ominous electronic wind welcomes you to the first of several sound-worlds on Resonant Drift’s new release, Full Circle, but don’t worry–it quickly rectifies itself into a lighter and brighter thing, made of rich pads like the rising sun describing some wide open desert-ambient vista. And so it goes on this latest cross-style journey courtesy of Bill Olien and Gary Johnson. Full Circle moves in and out of quiet ambient places, most tinged with that desert feel, vast and airy and soaring, but also grinds its way through some grittier environments. Resonant Drift have always had an experimental edge that finds its way into the flow, and it’s used here to temper the journey. For the most part, though, Full Circle takes a floating, meditative course, exemplified by the so-calm movement of “And Then the Rain.” Potent pads rise and fall gently over a river of low-end drone, and glitters of electronic sound sparkle through the mix. Contrast that with the track into which it flows, the clattering and cloying “Cross Communication.” Here’s where the duo really exercise that aforementioned experimental side. This is an almost purely atmospheric track. Battered metallic sounds and the rattle of shakers vie against the same electro-wind that greeted you at the start of the disc. This is a rough-hewn track that uses its coarse edges to leave its mark before depositing you back into more peaceful places. “Ocean Migration” takes deep-breath pads and sets them to idly wander over what I’m assuming are field recordings of birds. It’s another track where the pair let fly with a broad, patient sound. The latter part of the disc works its way into some light tribal tones, starting with “Turning the Wheel of Time.” Johnson lays down melty, sighing guitar lines that have such a potent Steve Roach feel, I mistakenly thought it was him. (Roach lent his talents to some of the percussion mix on the disc, and also a bit of synth work.) Over the guitar the pair weave a snaking bass line and tangles of percussion with a very Fever Dreams sense about them. That feel carries through “Fading Memories,” barbed with a catchy rhythm and playful squiggles of sound bouncing around your head. The closing track is a perfect ambient drift, peaceful and optimistic in tone, another dose of that largeness of sound, that sense of space and beauty.

Full Circle manages to show a bit of diversity of style without straying so far that the duo’s focal point is lost. The ambient touch is always there, hints of tribal bloom into easy grooves, and even the challenging moments arrive packing a promise of something different to come. It’s a great blend that’s handled very well by Olien and Johnson, making for yet another superb release from Resonant Drift." Hypnagogue Reviews

California based duo Resonant Drift, driven by Bill Olien and Gary Johnson, returns with brand new, long awaited work entitled "Full Circle", self-released at the end of 2012 as their 6th album. Wow, the first impression is absolutely striking as the CD is packaged in beautifully designed 6-panel digipak, all artwork by Stew Ivester. Very nice job, so the first extra points must be awarded immediately!!! But "Emerging Currents" massively invade my listening room and the journey unfolds into magnificently immense and expansive wide-screen drone panoramas, flowing and ebbing, utterly warm and tranquil, hauntingly enriched by forest recordings. Sonic enhancements are provided by no one else than The Great Master. Pure magic!!! The next track, "Mists Have Risen", is slightly less scenic, but more intensely meandering, before reaching its peak and then serenely fading out. Bill Olien and Gary Johnson are on this shorter piece again assisted by Steve Roach. "Aurora Breaking" attracts with warmly pleasant and spacious, nearly cinematic washes, nicely flavored with various distant sonic fragments. "And Then The Rain" is leaded by ethereally panoramic drifts, serenely flowing and cascading through few rather intenser passages, throughout embellished with gentle tinkles and swirls. "Cross Communication" dives into darker and rougher terrains with low dronescapes interplaying with harsher corroded industrial noises and primordial rumbles. But still much more evocative than cacophonous. Bizarrely immersing trip!!! "Ocean Migration" returns swiftly into pure atmospheric realms, peacefully captivating and harmoniously emphasized by organic sounds of flowing water and bird chirps. "Soaring Over Elysian Fields", again with Steve Roach's appearance, masterfully blends moaning strings with massively resonating dronewalls tickling my ears, a definite sound check for my speakers too!!! The following number, with 10 minutes the longest piece, "Turning The Wheel Of Time" involve except Bill Olien and Gary Johnson also Steve Roach and Rod Ratelle as composers and both add their mastery (Steve Roach-looping deconstruction, Rod Ratelle-electric bass and electric upright bass) to this composition. It unwraps quite darkly, with some weird otherworldly drones, soon sluggish tribal percussions join the stage. Later the tribal part gets more lively along with the ever-changing, but ghostly wandering blend of strings. Another piece with truly unconventional approach!!! "Fading Memories" (with Steve Roach as additional composer) test your speakers once again, with heavier beats and swirling groovy pulses, all guarded and reinforced by highly evocative string escapades and hauntingly sonorous drones. Absolutely magnificent journey, a real masterpiece!!! Shorter and eerie "Dissolution" reveals breathtaking cavernous mysteries while the closing title track, "Full Circle" returns to beautifully reflective and amazingly cinematic, vast open landscapes. The "Full Circle" is completed!!! Yes, "Full Circle" looks and sounds quite green for this cold wintery season, but I took it with me while wandering through small snow capped forest yesterday and "Full Circle" was as much shimmering as the sunrays shinning through the branches of trees. Pure sonic and visual bliss!!! Last but not least, the mastering was executed by Steve Roach. Without doubt "Full Circle" is a magnum opus by Resonant Drift!!!